WELCOME

Jazz & Blues at The Olympia is a monthly music night at one of the most exciting venues in Berkshire. Different guest singers join the resident house band each month to provide the best in soulful, funky Blues and Jazz.

Aside from great music, the venue provides a fantastic jazz club atmosphere, bar and the most amazing Indian tapas.

Confirmed Special Guests

Thursday March 1st , at 8.30pm

Kelly Dickson
Kelly Dickson has been described by Jamie Cullum as "A highly individual, mature voice with very subtle power that creeps up on you". Born in Northern Ireland and raised in Leeds, England. Kelly knew from an early age that she would make a career in music and has gone on to play numerous venues and festivals such as Glastonbury, Dubai Jazz Festival, The Blue Note Milan, and is a regular singer at Ronnie Scott’s Jazz Club London to name but a few.

She has been involved in several musical projects which has spanned a variety of recordings, two New York jazz recordings ‘Vocal Point’ and ‘Doodlin’ (both featuring renowned saxophonist George Garzone), an album ‘From the Six Corners’ with Steve White and Mick Talbot’s super funk band The Players, and the ‘Hindsight’ EP recorded with 'Chapter Two', Chapter Two is Kelly’s band with her partner, Norwegian guitarist Werner Kristiansen. (They are currently working on their debut album to be released early 2012).

A consummate performer, Kelly is a petite blonde with a big presence and unique voice. She has also worked closely with Corrine Bailey Rae, sang backing vocals for Gwen Stefani and The Noisettes, opened up for John Legend at the Dubai Jazz Festival and was booked personally by Piers Morgan to be the main act at his wedding party.

Kelly Dickson Quotes:

'I booked Kelly and her band for my wedding party, which was obviously a fairly important gig as far as I was concerned - ! - and she was absolutely superb, as were the band. They warmed up everyone up with some great jazz, then stepped the pace up and had the dancefloor going crazy. You know it's a hot party when you see Bruno Tonioli dancing topless, Freddie Flintoff jiving in a Viking helmet, and Christine Bleakley competing with Amanda Holden to see who can limbo the lowest. I would recommend Kelly to anyone who wants their bash to go with a bang.'
Piers Morgan

"Whatever you do, don't miss Kelly... Singers with her talent don't come around very often. She has a great feeling and exuberance for the music, combined with a lovely voice with wonderful intonation"
Harry Allen

"Kelly Dickson is a force 10 hurricane bursting with energy, power and an outstanding voice, once heard never forgotten. Absolutely brilliant!".
Liane Carroll

“Dickson is a thoughtful singer with a lustrous tone”
John Fordham, The Guardian

"Kelly Dickson has a feel for jazz articulation."
Jack Massarick, Evening Standard, UK

"I recently had the great pleasure of seeing and hearing Kelly Dickson perform and was knocked out by her singing ... just as everyone else was in the packed London club. Be sure to check her out; she's a talented and vivacious vocalist!"
Peter Erskine

‘Chapter Two are a terrific band to watch live and Kelly Dickson’s fabulous vocals add a really interesting dimension to the show’
Mike Vitti, Jazz FM

How to book

Admission Charge:£5

Music starts: 8:30pm

Parking: at rear of venue, East Street (click here for details)

The Olympia, Shehnai 75-77 London Street, Reading RG1 4QA

Bookings: Jazz@zuloo.co.uk

Telephone: 0118 957 6666